And tributes to James Watt, Joseph Priestley and Thomas Attwood have already been removed from Chamberlain Square due to the Paradise Circus development.

The Three Wise Men stand on Broad Street

Rob Lewis, Collections Care Manager at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “The statues are an important part of the city’s collection and we are pleased to oversee the plans to ensure the two artworks are cared for during this process.

“We look forward to welcoming them back in the future, so the public can enjoy them once more and learn about Birmingham’s industrial heritage.”

Council deputy leader Ian Ward added: “Both of these statues are important to Birmingham and its citizens, which is why we’re putting them into temporary storage with the support of Birmingham Museums Trust. This will enable regeneration works in Centenary Square, Broad Street and Paradise – and the city centre’s transformation – to progress.